Chile will celebrate its national holidays with an extended holiday Monday to Wednesday, to which the previous weekend must be added. For this reason, the authorities across the Andes foresee a constant flow of Chileans to Argentina, considering not only the number of holidays as indicators, but also the opportunity of a neighboring country with a devalued currency and the strength of a dollar that, this time, could generate a vacation and shopping migration to this side of the Andes mountain range.
Because of this, it is estimated that Increase in the flow of vehicles on Chile's exit routes abroad, especially at the Los Libertadores border crossing, where a large number of private vehicles and tourist buses are expected to cross the border into Argentina.
Contingency plan
To deal with this increase in vehicular flow, the public services in charge of control activities and the coordination teams in Argentina and Chile have generated a plan that incorporates an important increase in allocations in order to serve at maximum capacity for most of the day.
However, despite the planning and increased staffing, service times are expected to increase due to the high volume of vehicles that will be travelling on the international route.
The Head of the Border Crossings Unit, Ignacio Kuncar, states that despite the The contingency plan that each border complex will implement at the border to optimize procedures, calls on users to plan their trip in advance, especially if they are traveling with children and older adults.
“We invite all users who want to leave the country for Fiestas Patrias to be informed about the state of the border complex route they will use for their trip, the use of chains on the routes in southern Chile and the weather forecast, so that they do not have any setbacks on their trip. Although we will be working at maximum capacity during these dates, users must be prepared in case of increased waiting times in order to be able to cross the border in the best way possible,” said Kuncar.
Recommendations to travelers
Along with these instructions, the Border Crossing Unit (UPF) of the Ministry of the Interior and Public Security together with the Government of Los Andes, recommend the following to users who are going to travel between Chile and Argentina:
- Plan your trip in advance and if possible, cross the border before Friday the 14th and postpone your return to your country of origin until after Wednesday, September 19th.
- It is recommended Bring a coat, food, water, diapers and sunscreen, especially if you are travelling with children or elderly people. Remember that the border complexes are located in the high mountains, with a route that reaches more than 3 metres in height in some sections.
- Before travel, check the weather forecast, since although the border complex operates 24 hours a day, it may not be necessary to close. In the event of closure due to weather, traffic or other reasons, you may be exposed to waiting times on the road, with sudden changes in temperature.
- Make sure you count on the fuel needed for your vehicle and check its general condition, make sure you have the necessary safety equipment and repairs in case of unforeseen events on the road. Check that your spare tire is in good condition and has sufficient air pressure to be used.
- Remember to bring your mandatory documents travel documents such as their identity card, passport or DNI, in the case of Argentine users traveling to Chile. If children and adolescents travel with their parents, they must carry:
- Valid identity card, DNI or passport.
- Birth certificate and/or parentage documents.
- If they are traveling without one of their parents, they must carry notarized authorization from the parent who is not traveling.
- If you travel without either of your parents, you must carry notarial authorization from both
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